A day after Chief Minister Raghubar Das showed interest in bringing back Geeta with possible Jharkhand link residing in neighbouring Pakistan, the Government machinery swung into action.
Geeta, a differently-abled woman, is believed to have crossed into Pakistani territory 13 years ago.
The State’s Home Department through diplomatic channels contacted the Pakistan High Commissioner on Thursday and offered its assistance in bringing Geeta back. “It is in the process. We have contacted Pakistan High Commissioner through Indian Foreign Ministry and offered our help in locating her whereabouts in the State, if it is,” said an official of the Department requesting not to be quoted.
Referring to Geeta—who is said to have a possible Jharkhand connection based on some leads dropped by the speech and hearing impaired 23 year old—the Chief Minister had on Wednesday said that the Government would help her in reuniting with her family in every possible manner once she is brought back to India. He also added that all efforts would be taken to locate her relatives in the State.
Though, the Department mentioned that no directive had been issued to district administrations of the State in this regard as of now. “It is not possible this way. Such matters would have to channelise like this way only. If we get some confirmed lead about her Jharkhand connection, then perhaps the DCs concerned would be prompted,” added he.
Nonetheless some suo-motu action on the part of Bokaro district administration also came into light following the rumours about a probable family caught its attention. “Media reports about a family at Nawadih block came in our knowledge and I directed the concerned Block Development Officer to look into the matter as he is the official working at ground level. He enquired but no confirmed evidence to ascertain the connection could be found out,” said Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar.
local media had reported that a deaf and dumb girl belonging to a Mahto family of Rajatand village of the block had disappeared about 10 years ago and “face of Geeta resembles the missing”.
Moreover, the child rights organisations strike out any possibility of ‘Geeta’ being from Jharkhand. “This is highly unlikely that the girl found in Pakistan would be from Jharkhand. We are working in the field for quite a long time and have come across negligible number of cases where girls other than tribals are trafficked from here. look at the girl’s face which would resemble someone belonging to northern part of the country and not Jharkhand,” said Sanjay Mishra, who is connected with ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’ and rejects it based on the inputs he has received from his associates from the country and also from Pakistan.
Jharkhand came into picture when Pakistani social activist Ansar Burney expressed possibility about Geeta belonging to Jharkhand or Telangana based on her indications after seeing the map. The physically challenged girl had strolled to Pakistan when she was of 11 years in 2003. Pakistani Rangers spotted her and took her to a charitable organization Edhi Foundation in Karachi.
Indian High Commission in Pakistan came into action when Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj directed envoy TCA Raghavan to meet her in Karachi. Swaraj also expressed resolve to take her back after completing some formalities.